Clip actuated latch mechanism for retractable writing instruments



June 13, 1961 L. F. PLATT 2,988,055

CLIP ACTUATED LATCH NECHANISM FOR RETRACTABLE WRITING INSTRUMENTS FiledAug. 25, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 L. F. PLATT June 13, 1961 CLIP ACTUATEDLATCH MECHANISM FOR RETRACTABLE WRITING INSTRUMENTS Filed Aug. 25, 19585 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTO/MEMS L. F. PLATT June 13, 1961 CLIP ACTUATED LATCH MECHANISM FORRETRACTABLE WRITING INSTRUMENTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 m w W e M3 a s a 5. WIM

/1 Trae/vans United States Patent() Filed Aug. Z5, 1958, Ser. No.756,955 6 Claims. (Cl. 1Z0-42.03)

This invention relates to writing instruments, and more particularly toan improved latch mechanism for such writing instruments in which awriting unit is arranged for projection and retraction alternately uponsuccessive manipulations of an actuating means that is operablyaccessible at the side of the writing instrument and whereintheactuating means may include a pocket clip element which is in usualclipping relation when the writing unit it retracted and which isdisplaced inwardly to an inoperative position when the writing unit isprojected.

Briefly described, the latch mechanism of the present invention ischaracterized by a laterally shiftable actuating member disposed withinthe barrel of a writing instrument rearwardly of a writing unitretractably housed therein, with a portion of the actuating memberoperably accessible at the side of the writing instrument, and with theactuating member otherwise arranged within the writing instrument barrelin relation to cam means for causing the writing unit to -be projectedfrom the barrel and releasably latched at projected position and forsubsequent retraction within the barrel upon successive manipulations ofthe actuating member. Preferably, this actuating means includes a pocketclip element which is displaced inwardly to an inoperative position whenthe writing unit is projected and which is in usual ,clip-fA pingrelation when the writing unit is retracted.

'I'he actuating member or means is assembled with a guide means that isfixed within the barrel. The guide means may be formed to include aguide slot for slidably receiving the actuating means, an inwardlyfacing longitudinal latch shoulder for releasably latching the writingunit at projected position, and a forwardly facing latch release camportion for selectively canting the actuating means free from engagementwith the latch shoulder. I

When the actuating means is formed at its outer portion to provide apocket clip arranged to rendera substantially continuous outer barrelsurface at its inoperative position, the balance and feel of the writinginstrument when held in the users hand is greatly increased.V Also, theprovision of a pocket clip arranged in this manner further insures thatthe writing instrument cannot be secured within a users pocket while thepoint of the writing instrument is projected.

The above described arrangement of the latchrmechanism further offers awide latitude of design in structures embodying the present invention.Also, this latch mechanism minimizes highly critical tolerances for theparts that are employed therein and consequently avoids ditliculty withtedious assembly operations. As a result, the latch mechanism of thepresent invention makes it possible to provide an exceptionallyeffective mechanism that is capable of projecting and retracting awriting unit by successive manipulations of an actuating means locatedat the side of the writing instrument barrel, and having consistent andserviceable operating characteristics while possessing features thatmake it particularly easy to assemble.

These and other features of the present invention are described infurther detail below in connection with th accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a central longitudinal section of a writing instrumentembodying the present invention, with the writing unit illustratedtherein in retracted position;

Patented June 13, 1961 FIG. 3 is a partial longitudinal sectioncorresponding' .generally to FIGS. 1 and 2 and illustrating the mannerin which the writing unit is released for return from projected toretracted position;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the components forming thelatch mechanism shown in FIGS. l, 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a central longitudinal section of a writing instrumentincorporating a modified embodiment of the' present invention, thewriting unit being illustrated at retracted position;

FIG. v6 is a longitudinal section corresponding to FIG. 5 with thewriting unit shifted to projected position;

FIG. 7 is a partial longitudinal section corresponding generally toFIGS. 5 and 6 and illustrating the manner in which the writing unit isreleased for return from projected to retracted position in theembodiment illustrated therein;

FIG. 8v is an exploded perspective view of the components forming themodified latch mechanism shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7;

Fig. 9 is a central longitudinal section of a writing instrumentincorporating a further modified embodiment of the present invention,the writing unit being illustrated therein at retracted position; n

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal section corresponding generally to FIG. 9 butshowing the writing unit therein shifted to projected position;

FIG.V 11 is a partial longitudinal section corresponding generally to-FIGS. 9 and 10 and illustrating the manner in which'the writing unitis' released for return from` projected to retracted position in themodified embodiment illustrated therein; and

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the components forming themodied latch mechanism shown in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11.

'I'he embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 ofthe drawings comprises a writing instrument, as indicated generally bythe reference numeral 100, in which a two-part barrel housing is formedby a forward barrel portion 101 and a rear barrel portion 102 forcontaining a writing or ball point and reservoir unit 103 slidablyarranged therein to shift longitudinally between rearwardly retractedand forwardly projected positions, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2respectively; the writing unit 103 being continuously biased rearwardlytoward retracted position by a coil spring 104 bottomed in the forwardbarrel portion 101 and bearing rearwardly there-Y from on the writingunit 103.

The forward and rear barrel portions 101 and 102 are arranged forassembly in any convenient manner inter-mediate the length of thewriting instrument 100,

shoulders 107 and forwardly facing latch release cam` face portions 108.The latch shoulders 107, as illustrated in FIGS. l to 4, are preferablyangled somewhat for. positive latch engagement, but these shoulders 107are nevertheless longitudinal in general disposition for en' gaging alatch that is shifted laterally within the barrel,v

rathcrthanbeing laterally arranged in the usual manner for engaging alatch that is shifted longitudinally within a barrel.

'I'he above described latch shoulders 107 arepp'rovided to. engage latchlugs 109 formed on an actuating. member 110 that is disposed within therear barrelwpprtion 102 inA assembled relation at the guide means, 106for lateral shifting therein. As thus assembled4 with the guide means106, the actuatingv member 110 is arranged` in relation to a lateralopening 1,11- through which it is accessible for inward depression, andthe actuating member 110 preferably incorporates a pocket clip` element112 projecting through the lateral barrel opening 1 11 to anoperativeclipping position, when, the writing unit 103 is retracted, as seen inFIG. l, while being displaced inwardly at the lateral barrel opening 111to an inoperative position when the writing unit 103 is projected, as

seen in FIG. 2.

In order to provide for the above noted assembly of the laterally`shiftable actuating member 110, the guide means 106 is formed with alongitudinal recess 113 aligned with the lateral barrel opening 111 andproportioned for slidably receiving the actuatingY member 110 in guidedrelation, with longitudinally spaced2 transverse guide slots 114 openingoff the longitudinal recess 113 to receive the. actuating member latchlug portions 109 in relation to the latch shoulders 107 and cam faceportions 8 which are formed therein. Between the above mentionedtransverse guide slots 114, theV guide means 106 is further formedY withaV transverse recess 115 for positioning a bias spring 116 to bearoutwardly on the actuating member 110 s o as to maintain it biasedoutwardly towardn the position at which the pocket clip element 112projects operativelyl through the l'ateralbarrel opening 111.

AtV its forward end portion, the guide means 106 is arranged to receiveslidably the rear end ofthe writing unit 103 in relation to a cam member117 pivoted thereon to bear at the rear end of writing unit 103. thispurpose, the guidemeans106 has` a forwardly opening bore central portion118` proportionedto receive the rear end of writing unit 103 slidablyin, guided relation, with opposed longitudinal slots 119 formed at thisbore portion 118 to providenclearance for pivoting movement of the cammember 117` about pivot studs 120 formed:

thereon for dispositionin bearing slots 121` formed therefor in theguide means 106 adjacent the rear end of the central bore portion 118g.As thus disposed` for pivoted bearing at the rear end ofthe writing unit103, the cam member 117 is also arranged to engage a forward end portion122 of the actuating member 110;so that inward depression of theactuating member 110 results, through its forward end portion 122, inpivoting the cam member 117 forwardly to project the writing `unit 103,as illustrated in FIG. 2. Upon such action of the cam member 117 inltranslating lateral shifting of the actuating member 110 intolongitudinal projecting movement of the writing unit 103, the rearwardbias on the Writing unit 103 'from its bias spring 104 acts in turn toapply a rearward bias` on the actuating member 110 so that as.r

soon as its inwardV depression proceeds to the point of shifting thelatch lugs 109 thereon past the guide means latch shoulders 107, therearward bias will causeshifting of the latch lugs 109 into engagementwith the latchv shoulders 107 and thereby latch the forwardly projectedWriting unit 103 at projected position. a succeeding further inwarddepression of the actuating member 110 the latch lugs 109 will be movedinto contact with the forwardly facing cam face portions 108 adjacentthe guide means latch shoulders 107, and these cam face portions willcause a forward displacement ofthe actuating member latch lugs 109 fromengagement with latch shoulders 107 and free the actuating member 110"for shifting laterally outward, as illustrated in FIG. 3,

and therebyallowing retractionY ofthe writing-unit-103` under the forceof the rearward bias thereon from spring Forr However, upon` 104.Accordingly, successive inward depressions of the single side actuatingmember at the lateral barrel opening 111 acts alternately in oneinstance through the forward actuating member end portion 122 and cammember 117 to project the writing unit 103 whereuponv the latch lugs109` engage the latch shoulders 107 for latching the writing unit 103 atprojected position, and in the other instance through contact with thecam face portions 108 to disengage the latch lugsl 109` from the latchshoulders 107 and permit retraction of the writing unit 103.

The latch release cam portions 108 may be omitted from` this generaltype of mechanism when the structure isy such that a sufficient portionof the actuator 110 and/ o r clip 112 is manually accessible exteriorlyof the barrel when the writing unit is at projected position to enablethe-user to manually shift the actuator forward and freeit fromengagement with the latch shoulder.

FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 illustrate a modified embodimentv vided with adifferently arranged form of latch mechanism, as indicated generally bythe reference numeral 205 for retracted and projected positioning of thewriting unit 203 in the manner described above. The latch mechanism 205comprises in this embodiment a guide meansv 206 xed within the rearbarrel portion 202 and formed intermediate its length with a latchshoulder 207 facing, inwardly with respect to a lateral barrel opening208 at which an actuating member 209 is arranged from apivot mountingadjacentthe rear end of the guide means 206 for lateral pivotingmovement in relation to the latch shoulder 207. Theactuating means "209preferably carries a pocket clip element 210 thereon for projectionthrough the lateral barrel opening 208, as in the previously describedembodiment, and is formed with a latch lug portion 211 for engaging thelatch shoulder 207. The pivoted mounting of the actuating means 209 iseffected through a pivot pi n 212 formed on theA actuating member 209and elongated journal slots 213 formed therefor in the guide means 206on an axis inclined forwardly away from the lateral barrel opening'208.In order to provide for assembly of the actuating member 209 readily atthe journal slots 213, the guide means 206 is preferably formedcompositely of two longitudinal parts with one longitudinal component206 having a major portion ofthe journal slots 213 formed therein toprovide for-assembly on the actuating member pivot pin 212 (see FIG. 8).Y Forwardly, the guide means 206 is formed with a central bore portion214 for slidably receiving the rearuend of the writing unit 203, and atwhich opposed longitudinal clearanceslots 215 are provided for a pivotedcarn member 216 carried at pivot studs 217 thereon in bearing slots 218`arranged in the guide means 206 for carrying the pivoted cam member 216to bear at the rear endA ofr the writing unit'203- and engage a forwardend portion 219 of the actuating member 209 so as to translate lateralpivot movement of the actuating member 209 into longitudinalshiftingmovement'of the writing-unit 2.03` for projecting-the writingunit as shown in FIG. 6 from its retractedl position illustrated in FIG.5. Inward depression ofthe actuating member 209 for effecting suchprojectingmovement kof the writing unit 203 has the effect of shiftingthe latch lug portion211Y of actuating member 209 inwardly to a positionat which it will be forced into engagement withtheflatch shoulder 207under the force of the bias spring 204- acting rearwardlylon the'-writing unit`203r and Athrough the pivotedcambmemb er, 216, therearwardi movement of the actuating mem-i slots 213 at which theactuating member pivoted pin 212 is carried. Such latching engagement ofthe actuating member 209 results in holding the writing unit 203 at itsprojected forward position, and it should be notedthat upon suchprojected position latching, the pocket clip element 210 of theactuating member 209 has the forward end thereof displaced inwardly toan inoperative position, while the rear end portion thereof is shiftedto a more pronounced projecting relation at the lateral barrel opening208. Accordingly, it is this rear portion of the pocket clip element 210at which subsequent inward displacement pressure is applied on theactuating member 209 and the result of such pressure is to cause forwardmovement of the actuating member pivot pin 212 in the inclined journalslots 213 therefor so as to displace the actuating member 209 forwardlyand cause disengagement of the latch lug portions 211 thereof from thelatch shoulder 207 and thereby release the actuating member 209, as seenin FIG. 7 to permit retraction of the writing unit 203 and return of theactuating member 209 to the FIG. 5 position.

FIGS. 9, 10, ll and l2 illustrate a still further moditied embodiment inwhich a writing instrument 300 having forward and rear barrel portions301 and 302 assembled to form a housing for a writing unit 303 biasedrearwardly by a coil spring at 304 is provided with a further modifiedlatch mechanism 305 for projected and retracted positioning of thewriting unit 303 in the same general manner as has been explained abovein connection with the previously described embodiments.

The latch mechanism 305 provided for the present embodiment incorporatesa guide means 306 and an actuating member 307 pivoted thereon inrelation to a lateral barrel opening 308 through which a pocket clipelement 309 of the actuating member projects as in the last describedembodiment. pivoted cam member 310 at bearing slots 311 to bear againstthe rear end of the writing unit 303 and to engage a forward end portion312 of the actuating member 307 for translating lateral pivotingmovement of the actuating member 307 into longitudinal shifting movementof the writing unit 303 incident to retracted and projected positioningthereof as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. The actuating member 307 inthe present embodiment is formed with a latch lug portion at 3113intermediate its length and has elongated pivot slots 314 formedadjacent its rear end with an inclination extending forwardly away fromthe lateral barrel opening 308. The guide means 306 is in turn arrangedfor assembly insertion therein of a pivot pin 315 and a shoulder bar316, these elements being inserted laterally through apertures thereforin the guide means 306 so as to simplify substantially the structure ofthe guide means 306 and further facilitating advantageously the assemblyof the pivoted actuating member 307 for operation therewith insubstantially the same manner as the latch mechanism 205 provided in thelast described embodiment above.

The general external coniigurations of the pens shown for purposes ofillustrating this type of mechanism are not intended as a dedication ordisclosure of any aesthetic features of writing instruments of this typewhose designs are the subject matter of any copending designapplications.

The present invention has been described in detail above for purposes ofillustration only and is not intended to be limited by this descriptionor otherwise except as delined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A retractable writing instrument comprising a barrel having a lateralopening lat the rear end thereof, a writing unit slidably housed withinsaid b-arrel for shifting between forwardly projected and rearwardlyretracted positions with respect to the forward barrel end, means withinsaid barrel biasing said writing unit toward retracted position,stationary guide means positioned with- The guide means 306 carries arin `said barrel incorporating a latch shoulder facing in-v wardly withrespectrto said lateral barrel opening and a release cam portionarranged for exerting a displacement force -in disengaging relation withrespect to said latch shoulder, actuating means assembled with saidguide means for guided lateral shifting thereat and being manuallyaccessible at said lateral barrel opening, said' actuating means beingformed with a latch lug for engagement lwith said latch shoulder andwith a forwardly extending end portion, and cam means pivoted in saidbarrel at the rear of said writing unit and engagingfthe forward endportion of said actuating means for translating lateral shiftingmovement of said actuating means into longitudinal shifting movement 0fsaid writing unit,

whereby successive depressions of said actuating meansat said lateralbarrel opening acts alternately iirst through inward movement of saidforward end portion in engagement with said pivoted cam means to projectsaid writing unit and to engage said latch lug with said latch shoulderfor latching said wri-ting unit at projected position, and then uponsecond manipulation of said actuating means in contact with said guidemeans release cam portion to disengage said latch lug from said latchshoulder and permit retraction of said writing unit under the force ofsaid biasing means.

2. A retractable writing instrument as defined in claim l and furthercharacterized in that said actuating means incorporates a pocket clipelement at said lateral barrel opening positioned operative for clippingwhen said actuating means is disposed for retracted positioning of saidwriting unit, said pocket clip element being displaced inwardly at saidbarrel opening to a position inoperative for clipping when saidactuating means is disposed for projected positioning of said writingunit.

3. A retractable writing instrument comprising a barbel having a lateralopening adjacent the rear end thereof, a writing unit sli-dably housedwithin said barrel forY shifting longitudinally between forwardlyprojected and rearwardly retracted positions, biasing means arrangedwithin said barrel urging said writing unit toward retracted position,stationary guide means positioned within said barrel including aninwardly facing longitudinal latch shoulder and a forwardly inclinedlatch release cam face, laterally shiftable actuating means disposed insaid guide means and accessible at said barrel opening for inwarddepression thereat, said actuating means having a latch lug thereon forreleasably engaging said latch shoulder and a forwardly extending endportion, and 'cam means pivoted in said barrel at the rear of saidwriting unit and engaging the forward end portion of said actuatingmeans for translating lateral shifting movement of said actuating meansinto longitudinal shifting movement of said writing unit, wherebysuccessive depressions of said actuating means at said lateral barrelopening acts alternately first through inward movement of said forwardend portion in engagement with said cam means vto project said writingunit and to engage said latch lug with said latch shoulder for latchingsaid writing unit at projected position, and then upon a secondmanipulation of said actuating means in contact with said forwardlyinclined latch release cam face to disengage said latch lug from saidlatch shoulder and permit retraction of said writing unit under theforce of said biasing means.

4. A retractable writing instrument comprising a barrel having a lateralopening adjacent the rear end thereof, a writing unit slidably housedwithin said barrel for shifting between forwardly projected andrearwardly retracted positions with respect to the forward barrel end,means within said barrel biasing said writing unit toward retractedposition, stationary guide means positioned within said barrelrearwardly with respect to said writing unit and formed intermediate itslength with a latch shoulder facing inwardly with respect to saidlateral barrel opening, actuating means rotatably pivoted and laterallyand longitudinally movable on said guide means adjacent the rear endthereof for movement in relation to said latch shoulder, said actuatingmeans being manually accessible at said lateral barrel opening and beingformed with a latch lug engageable with said latch shoulder upon inwardpivoting of said actuating, means, the pivoted mounting of saidactuating means on said guide means being formed by a pivot pin and anelongated journal slot therefor, thereby providing inward pivoting andlateral movement along a plane inclined fonwardly and away from saidlateral barrel opening, said actuating means being further formed with akforwardly extending end portion, and cam means pivoted in said barrel`at the rear end of said writing unit and engaging the forward endportion of said actuating means for translating lateral pivotingmovement of said actuating means into longitudinal shifting movement ofsaid writing unit, whereby inward pivoting of said forward end portionin engagement with said cam means projects said writing unit and engagessaid latch lug with said latch shoulder for latching said writing unitat projected position, and upon subsequent inward depression of saidactuating means the release cam pin is laterally and longitudinallydisplaced in said journal slot to disengage said latch lug from saidlatch shoulder and permit retraction of said writing unit under theforce of said biasing means.

S. A retractable writing instrument comprising a barrel having a lateralopening in the rear portion thereof, a writing unit slidably housedwithin said barrel for shifting between forwardly projected andrearwardly retracted positions with respect to the forward barrel end,means within said barrel biasing said writing unit towards retractedposition, laterally shiftable actuating means including a clip elementmanually accessibile at said lateral barrel opening, said clip elementbeing in usual clipping relation exteriorly of said barrel when thewriting unit is retracted, stationary means positioned within saidbarrel for releasably latching said actuating means for securing thewriting unit at projected position, means for translating lateralshifting movement of said actuating means into longitudinal movement ofsaid writing unit whereby lateral inward movement o-f said clip elementto an inoperative clipping position shifts said writing unit toprojected position and releasably engages said actuating means with saidlatch means, said engagement being maintained by the force exerted bysaid biasing means, and a further successive inward manipulation of saidactuating means overcomes the force of said biasing means to releasesaid actuating means from said latching means l 8 a to allow retractionof said writing unit and return of said clip element to operativeclipping relation exteriorly of said barrel. Y

6. A retractable Vwriting instrument comprising a barrel having alateral opening in the rear portion thereof, a writing unit slidablyhoused within said barrel for shifting between Aforwardly projected andrearwardly retracted positions with respect to the forward barrel end,means 'within said barrel biasing said writing unit towards retractedposition, laterally shiftable actuating means including a clip elementmanually accessible at said lateral barrel opening, said clip elementbeing in usual clipping relation exteriorly of said barrel when thewriting unit is retracted and being movable laterally'inward to aninoperative clipping position, stationary means positioned within saidbarrel having a portion for releasably latching said actuating means insaid inoperative clipping position of said clip element and having arelease cam portion, cam means pivoted in said barred for translatinginward lateral' shifting movement of said actuating means into forwardlongitudinal movement of said writing unit to shift said writing unit toprojected position and releasably to engage said actuating means withsaid latch means, said engagement being assumed and maintained by theforce exerted by the biasing means, said clip element moving laterallyinward to inoperative clipping position, said laterally shiftableactuating means having another release cam portion cooperating with saidstationary means release cam portion for exerting a displacement forcein disengaging relation with respect to said latch shoulder portionwhereby a succeeding inward manipulation of said actuating means toovercome the force of said biasing means releases said actuating meansfrom said latch means whereupon said biasing means retracts said writingunit and returns said clip element to operative clipping relationexternally of the barrel.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS249,230 Doyle Nov. 8, 1881 1,518,822 Saadi Dec. 9, 1924 2,427,069Randolph Sept. 9, 1947 2,881,736 Zeppelovitch Apr. 14, 1959 FOREIGNPATENTS 245,096 Switzerland June 16, 1947 1,086,929 4France Aug. 18,1954

